GAMA 2013 (Game Manufacturers Association)

The 2013 Game Manufacturers Association Trade Show, better known as GAMA (www.gama.org), has been going on strong since March 18th. The event showcases the latest and greatest in tabletop game industry. Follow the link above for over 480 photos from the show and check out our coverage:

The GAMA Trade Show is a gathering of the best and brightest game manufacturers and designers, showing off their latest and upcoming games to interested retailers and buyers. There are seminars to explain prize promotions and how best to start and manage player groups as well as introductions to the next releases for major games. Then, of course, there’s the exhibit hall. Like any good convention, here is where you’ll find the most activity and excitement. The exhibitors in attendance included Bandaidemoing the Star Trek and Resident Evil Deck Building Games, Chessexwith its huge variety of colored dice, Cool Mini Or Not with its Zombicide expansion and Sedition Wars, Eschaton Media’s incredible Dystopia Rising RPG setting, Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Hobbit miniatures, Konami’s latest Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card game expansion, OffWorld Designs’ fun and geeky t-shirts, On The Lamb Games’ Brushfire Historia Rodentia miniatures and upcoming Endless card/miniatures tactical game, Paizo's juggernaut Pathfinder RPG, Q-Workshop’s unique dice designs, Bushiroad’s wide array of Japanese card games like Vanguard, or Wyrd Miniatures’ Malifaux minis and fun Puppet Wars and Evil Baby Orphanage Games.

After the exhibit closed, it was time for GAMA’s Games Night, a six hour event bringing the manufacturers and retailers together in a relaxed space where the latter group could play full games and really try out the products (both current and upcoming). All of the companies were on hand, and people were lining up to try out everything from Wizards of the Coast’s Kaijudo to Fantasy Flight’s X-Wing miniatures game, Cryptozoic’s Arkham City Escape board game, and just about everything that was on display downstairs in the exhibit hall. WizKids, though, really stole the show with their super-sized Star Trek: Attack Wing demo. Normally played with two to three inch long miniatures, this game featured game pieces that incorporated the old Playmates Star Trek ships! Giant tokens, movement tracks, cards, and more decorated the arena, while players got to roll massive resin dice and WizKids members maneuvered the ships.

As a player of various miniature games, board games, role playing games, and deck building games, I really enjoyed GAMA and learning about all of the incredible products that are out there or coming soon. Hopefully in this coverage you found some interesting games that you’ll check out too. Remember, the best way to get any of these games and support these companies is by going to your local game (or comic) store to request them!

- Scott Rubin

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